May 2, 2024 • 6 mins
Former UK men's basketball great and Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame inductee Tony Delk joins Tony Cruise on the backside to talk Derby and reflect on his time at the University of Kentucky with Coach Rick Pitino.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Good morning. I am Tony Cruzalong with Tony Delk, the great of
nineteen, one of the great playersI ever got to cover when I did
sports talk. I love watching yourteams, Tony. You that ninety six
championship team in particular. I waswith you guys in East Ruther for New
Jersey with my man Terry Miners right, and we just loved though. That
(00:21):
was one of my favorite teams I'veever covered B A U. L or
UK. I mean, you know, I've covered both those teams and had
some great moments. But welcome.Congratulations to Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.
You've well deserved. It's been somepeople said a long time coming, but
I'm very appreciative of the members andlike the class of twenty twenty four is
(00:47):
going in, you know, Oscarfor Teddy, just great men. You
know. I always say you gotto have great people to lead you,
and you know, there's so manypeople that helped us, you know,
get the position and to be inthis position. We all put in a
lot of hardwork that most people don'tunderstand and don't see. But I'm excited
(01:07):
about it. You know, it'sI didn't get a chance to enjoy the
Tennessee Hall of Fame because it wasright during the pandemic. Oh okay,
that was another one that happened afew years ago. But right as the
pandemic. I was like, man, you know, finally got a chance
to get accepted into the Tennessee StateHall of Fame, and then the pandemic.
So but this will be special.Do you live in Tennessee still?
(01:30):
Atlanta's home Ata been Atlanta since twentytwelve. So got out of coaching.
Was here at coach Cale this firsttwo years. They came here at Kentucky.
Then I left and with New MexicoState, started doing some work for
ESPN, run a basketball academy inAtlanta TDBA which is only the basketball academy,
and currently work for the Dallas Mavericksdoing pro personnel scout. Awesome.
(01:53):
Well, the Master's still in theplayoffs. Are still did It's got a
big victory last night. I wentafter LA and bet the Clippers. You
know, one of my good friendsand former teammate, ty Lew is the
coach for the Clippers, right,so the only time I cheer against him
is when he's playing the MAVs.That ninety six team was so special and
you got a little bit of redemptiontoo with Mississippi State, didn't you.
(02:14):
Well it was you Mass, remember, so, yeah, you Mass was
a Marine team. Yeah yeah.We played them that the second the second
game of the season, and thatparticular year in ninety five, we both
returned all our players. You know, we returned all our players and we
added Ron Mercer, Wayne Turner,you know, to phenomenal players that have
(02:35):
lead us to that national championship game. And you know we played them early
and you know, they basically hadtheir team intact. We were still trying
to figure out lineups and rotations.And when you have that many players,
you know, coach Patino had hadthe luxury of you know, plugging and
playing certain guys, but you haveto find the right chemistry and the continuity
that's going to help you become abetter team. So it's always a lot
(02:59):
of hardwork coaches to figure out likewhat players are playing, when to play
them, and what lineup is thebest lineup. So after we lost that
game, I remember coach telling me, he was like, Hey, I'm
gonna put you back at the shootingguard. We'll put Anthony Elks as a
point guard. And when people said, oh, that was a great move,
I said, well, we losta team that we end up facing
in the final four, so wejust didn't lose any any opponent. You
(03:21):
know, they were a solid team. Coach cow did it. You know,
did a phenomenal job of building thatteam that you masked, and just
that run was unbelievable. You know, we were always going the road and
it would be everybody's super Bowl.So when you're Kentucky, it's just everybody
looks forward to playing. You doyou still get a chance to talk to
coach Patino at all? I haven'ttalked to him in a few years.
(03:43):
But we were on a We hadCoach Patino and Tuvey who was under hit
on his tuolage for a while.You know, we had the ninety six
ninety team and we all had azoom call together. So it was it
was real fun. You know,we had there were a lot of stories
that we were telling them mongst eachother, both teams, so I record
that, you know, you havea ninety six and the ninety eight champions.
(04:06):
You know, we all know eachother, so we was right around
that same time, and uh,it was just so much fun. Playing
with these guys. Well you lookthe same and show does Mark Pope.
What do you think about coach Pope. I thought it was a great hire.
It was, you know, andI Mark called with yesterday. We
talked a little bit. You know, he was congratulating me on going into
into the hall and we were justliving, we know, reliving, reliving
(04:30):
that year. But Mark, youknow, we Mark was with us for
three years, you know, hesaid out of the year and then he
had to two years. Uh,we played together, So it was and
he was destined to be a coach. You know certain people in certain certain
instances when you when they talk andwhen they said things and when they have
conversation with you, you you knowyou see him like, hey, I
see him as a coach. Youknow he'll he'll be coach Pope, which
is not ironic. But for meit was a great hire, you know,
(04:55):
just having a former teammate and understandinghis love for this university, just
what the expectations are, because whenyou take that job, you know,
it comes with a lot of responsibilityand I think he knows what it's going
to take and you know it startswith getting the right support staff, coaching
staff along with you know, recruitingthe right players that fit his system well
(05:15):
deserved. You're right, you shouldhave had it, you know, eight
years ago at least been in thisHall of Fame, the Kentucky Athletic Hall
of Fame, Tony did I'm herenow and you are here now, and
I got to tell you words Ican't describe the words of watching that team.
They were amazing and one of thebest, if not the best team
that I ever witnessed. You know, personally, you know, there on
(05:38):
the sideline. So thanks for greatmemories. Appreciate it all. Right,
Tony Delquin is here News Radio eightforty whas we've got the news coming up.
(06:01):
We're all rapping basketball Number one hurts
Good morning. I am Tony Cruzalong with Tony Delk, the great of
nineteen, one of the great playersI ever got to cover when I did
sports talk. I love watching yourteams, Tony. You that ninety six
championship team in particular. I waswith you guys in East Ruther for New
Jersey with my man Terry Miners right, and we just loved though. That
(00:21):
was one of my favorite teams I'veever covered B A U. L or
UK. I mean, you know, I've covered both those teams and had
some great moments. But welcome.Congratulations to Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.
You've well deserved. It's been somepeople said a long time coming, but
I'm very appreciative of the members andlike the class of twenty twenty four is
(00:47):
going in, you know, Oscarfor Teddy, just great men. You
know. I always say you gotto have great people to lead you,
and you know, there's so manypeople that helped us, you know,
get the position and to be inthis position. We all put in a
lot of hardwork that most people don'tunderstand and don't see. But I'm excited
(01:07):
about it. You know, it'sI didn't get a chance to enjoy the
Tennessee Hall of Fame because it wasright during the pandemic. Oh okay,
that was another one that happened afew years ago. But right as the
pandemic. I was like, man, you know, finally got a chance
to get accepted into the Tennessee StateHall of Fame, and then the pandemic.
So but this will be special.Do you live in Tennessee still?
(01:30):
Atlanta's home Ata been Atlanta since twentytwelve. So got out of coaching.
Was here at coach Cale this firsttwo years. They came here at Kentucky.
Then I left and with New MexicoState, started doing some work for
ESPN, run a basketball academy inAtlanta TDBA which is only the basketball academy,
and currently work for the Dallas Mavericksdoing pro personnel scout. Awesome.
(01:53):
Well, the Master's still in theplayoffs. Are still did It's got a
big victory last night. I wentafter LA and bet the Clippers. You
know, one of my good friendsand former teammate, ty Lew is the
coach for the Clippers, right,so the only time I cheer against him
is when he's playing the MAVs.That ninety six team was so special and
you got a little bit of redemptiontoo with Mississippi State, didn't you.
(02:14):
Well it was you Mass, remember, so, yeah, you Mass was
a Marine team. Yeah yeah.We played them that the second the second
game of the season, and thatparticular year in ninety five, we both
returned all our players. You know, we returned all our players and we
added Ron Mercer, Wayne Turner,you know, to phenomenal players that have
(02:35):
lead us to that national championship game. And you know we played them early
and you know, they basically hadtheir team intact. We were still trying
to figure out lineups and rotations.And when you have that many players,
you know, coach Patino had hadthe luxury of you know, plugging and
playing certain guys, but you haveto find the right chemistry and the continuity
that's going to help you become abetter team. So it's always a lot
(02:59):
of hardwork coaches to figure out likewhat players are playing, when to play
them, and what lineup is thebest lineup. So after we lost that
game, I remember coach telling me, he was like, Hey, I'm
gonna put you back at the shootingguard. We'll put Anthony Elks as a
point guard. And when people said, oh, that was a great move,
I said, well, we losta team that we end up facing
in the final four, so wejust didn't lose any any opponent. You
(03:21):
know, they were a solid team. Coach cow did it. You know,
did a phenomenal job of building thatteam that you masked, and just
that run was unbelievable. You know, we were always going the road and
it would be everybody's super Bowl.So when you're Kentucky, it's just everybody
looks forward to playing. You doyou still get a chance to talk to
coach Patino at all? I haven'ttalked to him in a few years.
(03:43):
But we were on a We hadCoach Patino and Tuvey who was under hit
on his tuolage for a while.You know, we had the ninety six
ninety team and we all had azoom call together. So it was it
was real fun. You know,we had there were a lot of stories
that we were telling them mongst eachother, both teams, so I record
that, you know, you havea ninety six and the ninety eight champions.
(04:06):
You know, we all know eachother, so we was right around
that same time, and uh,it was just so much fun. Playing
with these guys. Well you lookthe same and show does Mark Pope.
What do you think about coach Pope. I thought it was a great hire.
It was, you know, andI Mark called with yesterday. We
talked a little bit. You know, he was congratulating me on going into
into the hall and we were justliving, we know, reliving, reliving
(04:30):
that year. But Mark, youknow, we Mark was with us for
three years, you know, hesaid out of the year and then he
had to two years. Uh,we played together, So it was and
he was destined to be a coach. You know certain people in certain certain
instances when you when they talk andwhen they said things and when they have
conversation with you, you you knowyou see him like, hey, I
see him as a coach. Youknow he'll he'll be coach Pope, which
is not ironic. But for meit was a great hire, you know,
(04:55):
just having a former teammate and understandinghis love for this university, just
what the expectations are, because whenyou take that job, you know,
it comes with a lot of responsibilityand I think he knows what it's going
to take and you know it startswith getting the right support staff, coaching
staff along with you know, recruitingthe right players that fit his system well
(05:15):
deserved. You're right, you shouldhave had it, you know, eight
years ago at least been in thisHall of Fame, the Kentucky Athletic Hall
of Fame, Tony did I'm herenow and you are here now, and
I got to tell you words Ican't describe the words of watching that team.
They were amazing and one of thebest, if not the best team
that I ever witnessed. You know, personally, you know, there on
(05:38):
the sideline. So thanks for greatmemories. Appreciate it all. Right,
Tony Delquin is here News Radio eightforty whas we've got the news coming up.
(06:01):
We're all rapping basketball Number one hurts
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!